Up on the North Hampshire section of the North Wessex Downs, between Overton and Hannington, nestles David’s Wood – a small, fenced plantation of young trees which makes a fantastic spot for a picnic and game of hide and seek. I usually reach it on foot, passing through on a regular walk with the dog who loves it here. However, come the school holidays, it becomes a destination in itself, a glittering prize for the children, who are not always the most enthusiastic of walkers.

By car you need to head from Overton via the B3400 towards Basingstoke then turn left into Station Road. The road twists and turns a little until, after the turning to the station, you take a right towards Hannington. After crossing the railway you’ll find a small car park on the right. We always take a picnic and head off with the dog racing ahead, and hopefully, the children leaping accross the fields behind him.

The trees in the wood are a wonderful native mixture and the inscriptions on the benches in the centre of the woodland give tantalising clues to the history of the area. The views accross the Test valley are magnificent, so pop down your picnic blanket and enjoy, before engaging in some serious hide and seek. The great thing is that it’s fenced securely so the kids can romp freely and the only concern about the train track that runs alongside is whether you might be lucky enough to see a steam train which occasionally passes along this line.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Incandela on Flickr